Pair of Hat Tricks Help Sockers Dominate Ontario 10-3
February 10, 2014 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAN DIEGO--Chiky Luna and Aaron Susi each scored hat tricks as the San Diego Sockers rolled to a 10-3 victory over the Ontario Fury in front of 4,092 at the Valley View Casino Center. Kraig Chiles added a goal and three assists as the Sockers closed out a 13-3 regular season with thirteen wins in their last fourteen games.
"We got a lot of good things out of tonight's game," said head coach Phil Salvagio, "It's all about the playoffs from here on out."
The Sockers moved a half-game ahead of the Las Vegas Legends (12-3) in the PASL Pacific Division standings, but Las Vegas holds the head-to-head tiebreaker and can clinch the division with a win over Ontario (5-10) next week in Vegas. Barring an upset by the Fury, the Sockers are lined up to play Tijuana (8-7) in the opening round of the Ron Newman Cup Championships on February 22nd at home.
San Diego controlled the pace early, establishing a 3-0 lead after one quarter of play. Sockers captain Aaron Susi, who is planning to retire at the end of the season, scored back-to-back goals to open the action, including a deft header flick in the crease on a centering bid from defender Ze Roberto.
"It's been an amazing seventeen years and I'm proud to have played seven of those seventeen in San Diego," said Susi, who will be honored as a Hall of Champions Star of the Year on Thursday, "For me it's all about championships and I've got one more to chase."
PASL three-time MVP Kraig Chiles' four point game allowed him to reach the 60-point mark for a league record third straight season. Chiles temporarily took the points lead away from Cleveland's Allen Eller, who still has a game in hand. Chiles set a new career high with 22 assists on the season.
"I think as my career progresses you'll see fewer goals and more assists," said Chiles, who finished the regular season with 38 goals and 22 helpers, "I'm getting double and triple teamed and it's all about passing the rock."
The Sockers led 4-1 at halftime then poured it on with three goals in 2:36 to start the third quarter. Chiky Luna completed his hat trick in the fourth and crossed the 100 career points mark in the PASL.
"It's not about 100 career points, it's about going forward and getting ready for the playoffs," said Luna, who finished the regular season with nine goals and thirteen assists, "As a veteran on this team I don't care too much about points, I want to win another championship."
Ontario (5-10), which was eliminated from the playoffs the night before in a hard fought 10-8 loss to Las Vegas, entered the night without starters Jay Harris and Miguel Sanchez and lost midfielders Majell Aterado and Jhonatan Bravo to injury against the Sockers. Afterward, a stoic Fury head coach Bernie Lilavois drew a comparison to another pro team from his region.
"By the end of the game I felt like the (Los Angeles) Lakers, where we might need to keep a player on the field if he got a red card," said Lilavois of his short-handed team, "You've got to hand it to the Sockers, they've got a lot more experience and played well, but we battled."
Raymundo Reza added two goals and an assist for San Diego, while Jonatan Santos added his first goal in a Sockers uniform to close out the scoring. Chris Toth (12-3) made eleven saves to cross the 200-save mark for the season, while defender Evan McNeley blocked five shots, including a first minute bid by Ontario that would have given the Fury an early lead.
Playoff tickets go on sale Monday morning at 10:00am at the Sockers box office. Fans can call (866) 799-GOAL to reserve their seats for San Diego's pursuit of a fifth straight championship, or order online at www.sockers.com.
NOTES: The Sockers played without all-PASL midfielder Brian Farber, who missed the game on a business trip to Germany...Toth recorded his career-best fourth assist of the year on a perfect distribution to Susi to open the scoring in the first quarter...Tino Nunez scored twice for Ontario, while midfielder Tiguinho finished with a pair of assists...77th District Assemblyman Brian Maienschein delivered the ceremonial first kick prior to the game, followed by San Diego Chargers kicker Nick Novak, who booted an autographed game ball into the stands...Novak stayed behind the game for over twenty minutes signing autographs for the fans in attendance.
• Discuss this story on the Professional Arena Soccer League message board...
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from February 10, 2014
- Pair of Hat Tricks Help Sockers Dominate Ontario 10-3 - San Diego Sockers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
